The Challenge
Killhope Museum is owned by Durham County Council and funding for new exhibits is limited. From time to time, the Friends of Killhope collect, manufacture or purchase relevant exhibits to gift or loan to the museum. Below are a few items from our collections.
Value
Each of the items in our collections tells a story about lead mining in the North Pennines. The spar boxes are a form of folk art carried out by the miners in their spare time with ‘bonny bits’ they collected from the mines. Silver was a by-product of lead mining. The Hudgill Burn bowl was made from silver from a mine at Nenthead. The snuffer tray came from the collection of the Beaumont family, owners of many lead mines in the North Pennines. Our mineral collection is extensive and comprises exquisite specimens from the North Pennines.